Taking Back The Reins with Dina Shale

Boundaries is one of the most profound learning experiences animals can help us with.  Boundaries teach us how we feel emotional, spiritually and what is comfortable for us.  Once you are able to set healthy boundaries, you are able to learn how to feel safe in your body and become empowered in your decision making. What You Will Learn: How children recognize and respond to the effects o...

The main purpose of therapy is to get you out from that box of fear, and give you a head start on how to move forward from your trauma and live your life without fear. Talk therapy requires you to speak about your trauma by reliving it through words, but this method doesn’t work for everyone. In today’s episode, you’ll discover that there are more options besides talk therapy on your road to recov...

When the pandemic started, people lived in constant fear and it took a toll on them. It had a traumatic effect on the minds of people without them realising it or understanding what’s happening in their bodies. In today’s episode, I want to share with you the reasons why being trauma-informed is critical post-pandemic, what to look out for when you spot people dealing with trauma, and the best way...

The universe has its own way of connecting with us and sending us signs and guidance in an attempt to teach us a lesson. This is why it’s important to focus on what we wish to attract, and manifest ourselves in our truest form. In today’s episode, I’ll be sharing with you a story where the universe played its part in the transformational journey of a lottery winner’s son. I’ll be sharing my experi...

When someone experiences trauma, it’s advisable to seek out professional help. These professionals create a space for you to openly express your thoughts and fears, providing the support you need to feel better. But what happens when all that talk doesn’t really help?  In this episode, I’ll be talking about the solution that equine therapy interaction has to offer when other traditional metho...

Childhood trauma is unfortunately as common as it is in adults. If children don’t have the opportunity to heal, they might suffer harmful consequences in the long run. Today’s episode is about understanding the effects of trauma on children, and how being trauma informed through equine facilitated learning can help them kickstart their healing. What You Will Learn: How children recognise and respo...

If you’re at a stage in your life where you’ve not been in control of your emotions, or how you react in different situations ever since a traumatic experience occurred, that’s the sign that you need to resolve your trauma. In today’s episode, I’ll be showing you just how important it is to dig into your experience and heal. I’ll be sharing my experience of a childhood trauma that I didn’t get thr...

There isn’t a lot of difference between humans and animals when faced with danger. We both provide a response in whatever traumatic situation we might find ourselves in, but what matters most is how we handle it. In today’s episode, I’ll be talking about how horses use the four trauma responses. I’ll talk about the various ways horses teach us to reconnect with our instincts by understanding traum...

Horses have always been a beauty to behold, because of how nature seems to radiate around them. They have a unique way of communicating without words. From their body language and honesty you can tell just how much they feel at that moment. In today’s episode, I’ll be talking about the various ways horses can positively impact people. You’ll find out how they can help you get a sense of meaning an...

When you’re not at peace with yourself, with your feelings and emotions, you’ll feel disconnected on all levels. This is how trauma feels like on the inside, and if you don’t do the inner work, there’s no way to regulate your inner peace. In today’s episode, I’ll be showing you how much more there is to horses than just riding. You’ll understand how horses can help people deal with trauma on diffe...

Welcome to the Taking Back the Reins Podcast!  I’m Dina Shale, Founder & Director of The Way of the Horse, a non-profit equine facilitated learning company that helps people deal with trauma using horses as a reflective tool.  In this show, you'll learn how you can recover and thrive by working with horses. This podcast is for you if you love horses; if you have tried all other sorts...